Nothing keeps you warm and cozy on a cold holiday night like a hot cocktail.

Evening Nectar

1 part Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka (orange-flavored vodka)
1/2 part orange brandy
1/2 part honey
3/4 parts hot water
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
1/2 part orange juice
Pinch star anise powder
Star anise for garnish

Combine the honey and hot water in a shaker, stir to dissolve honey. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Strain into glass, and garnish with star anise.

more Hot Drinks
more Holiday Cocktails

Recipe and photo from Grey Goose

Bloody Black Currant Punch

1 1/4 cups brandy
1/4 cup sugar
4 cups black currant nectar
1 1/2 cups cold seltzer

Stir brandy and sugar in a large bowl. Add nectar; stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. Punch can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days. Add seltzer just before serving.

This ghoulish Halloween punch recipe serves 6-8.

more Halloween Cocktails and Punches

The theme for Mixology Monday this month is 19th Century Cocktails. Living in San Francisco, naturally I was drawn to Pisco Punch. This famous cocktail came to be due to the large amount of Pisco available after the Gold Rush.

What is Pisco? It is a grape brandy from Peru. Just like French brandies, varieties range from rot gut to super premium. The main difference is that Pisco is aged, but not in barrels, rather ceramic or metal. The resulting spirit is clear.

So with all this potent Pisco around it became quite popular in San Francisco. This prompted owner, Duncan Nicol, of the Bank Exchange to create Pisco Punch a mix Pisco, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup and Gum Arabic, and ingredient that helps it fizz. Unfortunately, the original recipe went to the grave with Ducan and Prohibition closed the bar. So there are several variations of the recipe as bartenders try to recreate the original.

This recipe comes to us from the makers of Inca Gold Pisco. I had the pleasure to meet the proprietor, who schooled me on the history of Pisco and Pisco Punch. In fact, he believes that San Francisco should make Pisco Punch our civic cocktail. With so many cocktails, like the Martini, I am staying out of politics.

Pisco Punch

3 parts Premium Pisco
2 parts pineapple juice
1 part lime juice
1 part simple syrup
3-4 drops Gum Arabic

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a shaker with ice. Pour into a punch or tall glass and garnish with pineapple.

For a party, make a batch in a large punch bowl. Just use the same proportions.

Mixology Monday XXXI

Looking for Gum Arabic? This gum syrup from Small Hand Foods does the trick.

I know it is just Labor Day, but Autumn is just around the corner. To keep us all warm as it starts to cool off, check out our collection of cocktails that are served warm.

Classics such as the Hot Toddy, Tom & Jerry and Irish Coffee and a host of newcomers are ready to warm you inside and out until Spring.

Hot Drinks

I usually don’t recycle our Drink of the Week, but we figured once every 4 years is acceptable for honoring the opening of the Olympic Games. What can I say, this cocktail, aptly named “The Olympic” wins a gold medal every time!

Olympic

1 oz. Brandy
1 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Orange Juice
Orange Peel

Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into a chilled martini or cocktail glass. Garnish with the orange peel.

more Olympic Cocktails
past Drink of the Week Cocktails

Rémy Martin recently partnered with artist David LaChapelle to create
a limited-edition VSOP bottle that unleashed the youthful energy of Rémy Martin VSOP. Remy also asked LaChapelle to draw on the Cognac’s origins, the cabaret scene at Parisian nightclubs during the Jazz Age. What he came up is a stunning bottle featuring a sensual woman dancing in a vibrant, intensely colored jungle with a powerful leopard leaping through the air.

Only 150,000 of these bottle were produced and they are lovely. So is the content, Remy Martin has long been a favorite of mine. It is smooth, fruity and oh so warm. Prefect for the San Francisco Summer.

The signature cocktails:

Sex a’ Peel, Melon Baller and Aphrodisiac – were created by mixologist Ugo Jobin.

Remy Martin

Dad is a Classic and so are his cocktails.

No Midori Sours or Pina Coladas for good old Pops. Nope, our Dad sips Manhattans and Martinis. These are the cocktails that helped raise us all.

Cheers!

Drinks for Dad - Classic Cocktails for Father’s Day

Father Day Links

Father’s Day Traditions from Around the World - Mental Floss
Tailgator - Gas Powered Blender - DOTW
Father’s Day Masterclash: Heathcliff Huxtable vs. Al Bundy - Asylum
Top 10 Manly Drinks - Ask Men
The Ultimate Father’s Day Trip - DOTW